Smokey Bear

If you were in North Reno on Thursday morning, you might’ve seen dozens of hot air balloons rise in the sky. It was a preview to The Great Reno Balloon Race that runs through Sept. 8-10 at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. And if you spotted the wildfire prevention mascot Smokey Bear, KUNR's Lucia Starbuck was aboard.

A recent study says the American West should be doing more prescribed burns to keep forests healthy and to help lessen the impacts of wildfires across our…